PRACTICE INFORMATION:

The schedule of events for the Brickyard 400, arguably the most prestigious race - or second only to the Daytona 500, depending on who is the source for opinion - is different than that of any other race on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit.

Here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday's schedule is limited to a two-hour practice session for the Winston Cup teams - with no qualifying as is the norm. Qualifying occurs on Saturday morning at 10:05 a.m., leading many in the garage area to draw the conclusion that the luck of the draw has a great deal to do with establishing the starting field here. Common sense would show that under normal conditions, it would definitely be advantageous to qualify early under cooler temperatures.

"You're at Mother Nature's mercy," was how Tom Hoke, shock absorber specialist for Rusty Wallace's Miller Lite Dodge team.

For the record, in yesterday's practice here on this 2.5-mile quad-oval, it was John Andretti, driving a fourth car out of the DEI stable, fastest with a lap of 49.259 seconds. Jimmie Johnson's 49.276 was second, Joe Nemechek's 49.617 third, Dave Blaney's 49.683 fourth and Michael Waltrip's 49.695 fifth. Rusty was 14th with a 49.927, while Rusty's Penske Racing teammate Ryan Newman was a disappointing 30th with a 50.373.

"We just have to find some speed," Ryan briefly explained at the annual sponsor/media dinner last night at Ruth Chris Steak House.

Ryan and his Matt Borland-led team were blessed with getting an early draw as they go out seventh in the order. Rusty and his Bill Wilburn-led team were not so fortunate as they go out 49th of the 52 cars scheduled to make runs against the clock.

Tom Hoke was right on the money with the statement he made here regarding being at the mercy of the elements. When Nemechek took to the track as the first driver to make his run at 10:05 a.m., the conditions were overcast and cool.

The favorable conditions were definitely a plus for Nemechek as he reeled off a new track record lap of 49.061 seconds (183.445 mph). That set the pace, as seven of the first 10 qualifiers would break the old track record.

Defending Brickyard 400 champion Bill Elliott was out fourth and was the first to dip down in the 48-second bracket, turning in a 48.933 (183.925 mph).

Elliott's lap held the pole until Ryan took to the track and turned in a pleasantly surprising 48.850 (184.237 mph).

A brief shower halted the action after nine cars had made their runs.

It was still overcast when Kevin Harvick took to the track and turned a blistering 48.822 (184.343 mph) to knock Ryan back to second.

The clouds gave way to sun shortly after Harvick made his run and the speeds slowed dramatically. Ward Burton, out 12th in the order, ran a 48.982 and was the last driver to run in the 48-second bracket as the track heated up. Pole favorites fell by the wayside one by one, as the heat took its toll. Dale Earnhardt Jr. could run only a 49.866, Mark Martin only a 49.513 and Tony Stewart only a 49.304.

Johnson mustered a 49.091 and Sterling Marlin a 49.210. Andretti, out 37th in the order, turned in a 49.154.

Clouds moved back in with some 15 cars remaining, so the hopes were that Rusty could see some favorable conditions when he made his run.

With only seven cars remaining, a light shower again hit the track at 12:35 p.m. and brought the action to a temporary halt.

It was eight minutes later when Ken Schrader hit the track to begin the conclusion of the qualifying session.

Bobby Labonte was out just before Rusty and he turned in very respectable 49.071.

It was 12:35 p.m. before Rusty got his chance on the track and his lap of 49.250 seconds (182.741 mph), 13th after his run was made.

Jeremy Mayfield, the last driver out, turned in a 49.110 to take the 10th spot.

So the starting lineup for tomorrow's Brickyard 400 has Harvick on the pole, with Ryan starting second, Elliott third, Ward Burton fourth, Waltrip fifth, Kurt Busch sixth, Nemechek seventh, Bobby Labonte eighth, Johnson ninth and Mayfield 10th. Andretti starts 11th, with Marlin 12th, Robby Gordon 13th, Rusty 14th, Stewart 15th, Elliott Sadler 16th, Matt Kenseth 17th, Greg Biffle 18th, Jeff Gordon 19th and Dave Blaney 20th.

Tomorrow's 10th annual Brickyard 400 begins at 1:30 p.m. local time and features live coverage by NBC-TV and the IMS Radio Network.

RUSTY'S QUOTES:

RUSTY WALLACE:

RUSTY WALLACE (NO. 2 Miller ite Dodge): "We can't be too disappointed with that, even though we did leave a little on the table. It was definitely a big advantage to have been there among the first 10 or so cars to make their runs, but I think the weather turned out better for us there at the end than what it would have been in the middle of the session. We were 14th in practice yesterday and we'll start 14th here tomorrow. That's much better than we have been starting here, so we'll get a better pit position and not have as much distance to make up to get up front. This is a fast little hot rod and I think we'll be in great shape here tomorrow. It would be a big thrill in my life to finally win this thing here tomorrow, that's for sure."